Bake Cupcakes for Middle School Science - A Quick Reflection

Very quiet and then suddenly...

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So I'm immersed in deconstructing the Alberta Program of Studies for Grade 7-9 Science and I get to thinking about cupcakes.  I'm not sure how the two are related just yet, but I think hey, you know what would be fun for a science lesson -- Bake Cupcakes.

1. Baking = Mix and Flow of Matter, and Matter and Chemical Change (Grade 8 and 9)
2. Icing Value = Light and Optics (absorptive properties, subtractive mixing, digital-number colours), Space Science (remote sensing)
3. Mosaic = Organization of Data using appropriate methods (skill outcome 7-9)

Result.  Fun for the pinterest loving science student, or the DIY minecraft maker.

Here's a quick link to a site that lays it all out nicely:

http://www.zillycakes.com/Obama_.php

That is all.

The Velveteen Teacher

For those teachers that once loved or despised the classic (public domain) story of The Velveteen Rabbit, I dedicate this to you.

Download the original file here.

The Velveteen Teacher by T.C. Andrew is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Space Invaders

This happened today, as a result of some amount of intentional planning of space, class structure and project guidance.

My Grade 9's arrived today, and before I had a chance to welcome them (I was finishing up the creation of a quiz on light design for Grade 7s) they had started work using and modifying the space as they required.

They are working to design a set for a classic play, from which they will perform a brief scene. There was one guiding handout given at the outset, and since then it has been very much student guided and paced.

Document here: Drama 9 Directing Project

What to notice about the picture:

a) where the couch is.
b) how the chairs are arranged
c) number of students/size of space
d) accessories in the room

Pro's:

No start-up time lost
Engaged now for over 30 minutes
Helped one student on a personal project using Google Sketch-Up (which he will be using to create his 3D stage model

Cons:

I don't feel needed.
I have to be available, but want to get other design work done.
I'm discovering how superficial my needs as a teacher are...

The hard part now is to know when to engage a group, and when to let them "go".

Open Space Modernation

Modernation = modern moderation; moving the moveable to make room for the masses to create space for the new generation's nation.

I've found that not having furniture in my new space has allowed for quick readjustments and strong collaborative work. The students pictured have made their own large group work circles and have not strayed from these areas for over forty minutes. Just an observation.

It's true at times the room echoes as I have "take the stage" as-it-were. At the same time the loud work of collaboration takes place.

It's not the rows that matter, but what you're doing with the students in them.